Stairway-truck



(No Model.)

J. W. WETMORE.

STAIRWAY TRUCK.

N0. 868,263. Patented Aug. 16, 1887.

Ira/eralor mnesses.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 2.

J. W. WETMORB.

` STAIRWAY TRUGK. I N0. 368,263. Patented Aug. 16, 16887.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JEROME XV. VETMORE, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

STAlRWAY-TRUCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 368,263, dated August 16, 1887, Application filed January 5, 1887. Serial No. 223,458. (No model.)

.To all whom, it may concern.:

Be it known that l, JEROME W. WETMORE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Erie, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Stairway and Heavy-Weight Trucks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in trucks, the principal frame of which l(with the load) is advanced on small wheels in a subtruck or sub-trucks, which are alternately drawn forward by springs.

The objects of my invention are, first, to produce a low-down stairway-truck for pianos and a truck for other heavy bodies, second, to carry the load upstairs without the action of the wheels on the steps; third, to have the sub-truck step forward carried by hangers suspended on side rails and ruiming on them with slides or friction-rollers; fourth. to secure a truck which will carry its road-bed in one or two short sections with it; fth, to construct a truck which will carry heavy loads for short distances over roadways which are practically impassable for an ordinary vehicle with such loads. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated iu the accompanying drawings, in which*- Figure l represents atop View. Fig. 2 represents a side view. Fig. 3 represents a side view with a load being taken up a pair of stairs; Fig. 4, an enlarged View of the frame and subtruck.

A is the frame; B, the sub-trucks; C and D, the springs by which B and B are drawn forward; e, friction-wheel; f, the cord connecting the cross-tie g with the spring C over the friction-wheel e; g and h, upper bracketed cross-ties of the sub-trucks; a, lower cross-ties of the same, the foot of the sub-truck; if and j, bracketed cross-beams of the frame, k, bar to which spring D and springroller c are attached; Z Z, ordinary tiuclcwlieels; M, the load; N, o, and p, stairwaysteps; P, carriageway attached to the outside of the frame A, on which the wheels g run when the sub-truck is drawn forward, r, pawl operating when the truck is going upstairs on the ratchet-wheel t, Fig. 4, to prevent the frame and its load 5o from rolling back on the wheels s, which are the main bearing-wheels on which the frame and its load are moved forward, v and o, Fig. 3, movable stops on both sides of the frame, by which the advance of the sub-truck is adjusted to differences in the rise and tread of stairs, w, Fig. 2, hangers connecting wheelsq with the subtrucks; x, point and line of the foot of the sub-truck, where a strong molding may be attached to press against the nose of the step and serve as a check.

The friction-wheel eis introduced so as to give the spring C greater length.

There are two ratchet-wheels and pawls, r, on each sub-truck-one for each set of wheels.

rlhe ordinary truck-wheel, Z, is used i1'1 ruuning light and in turning on a 'platform on a winding stairs.

The cords may be branched to make double connections with the ties g and z.

The operation of the truck is as follows. (Illustrated in Fig. 3.) Vhen bffirst rested on the step the other truck was at b resting on step N, and the frame and load were drawn or pushed forward on them. rl"hen, as soon as the lower end of the truck was raised the subtruck began to be moved forward by its spring D, as is seen at b2, and will continue to be advanced to the position b, where it is checked by its stop e. The rear end of the truck is then lowered until the sub-truck b3 rests on step o. The forward end of the truck is then raised and the truck b advances until checked by its stop e2, already set at the proper distance to give this subtruck a proper foothold on step o. Then the frame and load are drawn and shoved forward on both sub-trucks. The sub-trucks are then alternately advanced as before.

A single subtruck may be used instead of two. W'heels Z would then sustain the forward end of the weight while the sub-truck would be advancing, or a movable crossblock attached to the under side of the frame near the point 1, Fig. 3, may be used instead of the forward truck or wheels, Z Z. lf ZZ be thus used,they would need a ratchet-wheel.

Draft-ropes may be attached to the forward end of the truck, and 1ifting-levers operated on it for safety and assistance.

losts and braces will be constructed iu the usual form on the frame, to sustain the load.

Vhat I claim 11s- IOC) Wheels and railway, the traction-springs and the truck-frame, substantially as deseribed,for the purpose set forth.

4. The oombnabion,in a stairway and heavy- Weight truek,w'ith the truck-frame, of the subtruek, (its hanger-carrying and Weight-bearing wheels and grooved foot,) the sub-truck railway, and bhe traction-springs, substam tially as and for the purpose seb forth.

JEROME WV. WETMORE. Witnesses:

WM. P. HAYES,

WALTER SCOTT. 

